Bodywork materials

Body MaterialsThe Hurricane body is polyester resin over glass fiber. I will attempt to stay with the same manufacturers, to avoid any compatibility problems.

GlassworkI chose to go with Evercoat products. Part personal preference and part due to the overwhelming use of Rage Gold as the finishing putty.

Kitty HairFor patching or any area subject to high stress, this is a long strand fiberglass product. Long strand means you can’t just dip a little-bit out of the can. It is a real challenge to get out a golfball sized bunch. Keep trying, you get it out. Mixing is also a challenge. Uses the same amount of hardener but with the glass strands, it doesn’t mix easily. It is designed to bridge gaps and build up areas to a maximum of 1/2″ thickI learned that Kitty Hair and Tiger Hair are the exact same product. One came originially from the boating industry and had become a generic name , like “Kleenex” or “Zerox”. When Evercoat combined companies, they maintained the names rather than confuse their existing customers. They succeeded in confusing their new customers.

So far in the build, I have used 3 quarts. I used it pretty extensively on the wheel well opening lips and reforming the panel and body edges.

EverGlassThis is a short strand glass reinforced material. It has the consistency of a very thick peanut butter. Used as a filler when the thickness was going to be up to 1/4″ thickI purchased two quarts and it appears this will be adequate. I’ve used it to touch up my wheel well lips and some of the edge work.

LiteWeight FillerWhat we generically call “bondo” (but that’s a different manufacturer) Good for building up areas to 1/4″ max thickness, I used it for filling some of the major voids and as a smoothing layer over EverglassI purchased a gallon of this. It is relatively inexpensive

Rage GoldThis is the final filler to smooth out the body and the small pin holes that show up. Has the consistency of thick syrup. Don’t plan on a thick layer on any surface, it is pretty runny and will level itself until the hardening process sets in.Again, another gallon.

Glass fiber and Epoxy
There were a couple spots that I felt needed additional reinforcement. Example was the rear corners where I “aggressively” sanded the lines around the taillight. The body gets a little thin. I built the area up with Tiger Hair. Then, just for overkill, covered the entire area with a layer of fiberglass mat and epoxy resin. Epoxy bonds to the polyester better than other polyester.

West System EpoxyI used #105 epoxy and the appropriate hardner (205 or 206). I had this available to me from another hobby. It is readily available at woodworking stores, boat stores and homebuilt aircraft sources. I obtained mine from Wicks Aircraft (you’ll also find them a good resource of other items used on our cars.

Glass MatI used 13½ oz glass mat. This will conform to the contours of the area pretty easily but beware, it gets real messy, especially with the resin in it. It is available from the sources above or at Lowes or Home Depot. When it was necessary to rebuild a section or complete a modification, I used multiple layers of this.